An in-depth assessment of the current malaise of the international left and speculations on a way forward, rooted mainly in struggles over everyday life (reproduction of capital), restoring the commons, and renewing democracy.  From the founder of ROAR Magazine (roarmag.org), but this is a more accessible link to the article, I think.

An excellent overview of the current relationships between electoral and extraparliamentary movements, mainly from a European perspective.

Don Fitz reviews Health Care without Borders: Understanding Cuban Medical Internationalism.

This article investigates the influence intuitive thinking has on political decision making. The author advises those involved with non-violent social change to be mindful of 'gut level' reactions and how activists might respond to these in ways that can improve the effectiveness of progresive movements.

Is it advisable for one who is not an expert on economic and social issues to express views on the subject of socialism? I believe for a number of reasons that it is.

An historic victory over South African neoliberalism was won on October 23, after the most intense three-week burst of activist mobilization here since liberation from apartheid in 1994. University students have been furious, as their cry “Fees must fall!” rang out on campuses and sites of political power across this society. But though there will be an effective 6% cut in tuition for 2016, the next stage of struggle looms, with demands for free tertiary education and university labor rights atop the agenda.

The #FeesMustFall movement’s first victory comes at a time that the African National Congress (ANC) ruling party confronts unprecedented economic pressure and social unrest. GDP growth will be only 1.5% this year and probably the same next year, lower than population growth. This is the most unequal of any major country, and the official poverty rate (at $2/day) has recently risen to 53%.

Each generation faces its own major challenge. During the 21st century — a period of fast technological development and economic growth accompanied by a world of hungry people and polluted rivers — one of the issues that we must confront is the loss of species biodiversity, whose main roots trace back to anthropogenic activities. One such human activity that is the leading cause of such problem is the consumption of animal products. Through raising livestock, humans negatively affect species biodiversity by contributing to both habitat loss and climate change and, through the greedy and irresponsible fishing habits developed by the fishing industry around the word, humans are blatantly degrading nature. With meat consumption expected to double between 2000 and 2050 to about 465 million tons, diet is critical in the fight against biodiversity loss. Ultimately, plant-based diets are our best option for preserving the Earth and its precious resources.

The global economic crisis continues and makes for a widespread and desperate need among the lowly paid, the poor and the hungry for something better to look forward to.

As such they provide a ready audience for charlatans who promise salvation, if not in this life, then certainly in the next. And ambitious politicians too, use this as an opportunity to promote themselves and their parties or groups as a means to earthly salvation. Vaguely worded promises labelled "socialism" are often their stock in trade.